Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh announced the death of Hassan Irloo, the country's top diplomat to the Yemeni capital. Sanaa is controlled by the Tehran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

The ambassador died of COVID-19 according to the spokesman, who described Irloo as a "martyr," as Iranian officials often refer to soldiers who die in combat and selectively for public workers who die while serving in an official capacity. 

As a member of the Quds Force — the overseas branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — Irloo did not have a diplomatic background. Irloo was blacklisted by the US government late last year over his membership in the IRGC, which itself is designated as a terror organization.

While the exact circumstances surrounding Irloo's death have yet to be clarified, Khatibzadeh accused "certain countries" of "overdue cooperation" in allowing his return to Iran for treatment. Under an effective Saudi blockade from sea, land and air, the Houthis had urged Saudi officials to facilitate the envoy's departure, which reportedly took place via a flight to Iraq on Sunday. Amwaj Media reported that “direct contact” between Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman facilitated the repatriation of the ambassador.